wp.arcticportal.org

Tag: waters

  • Huge interest in east-Greenland oil

    Huge interest in east-Greenland oil

    Arctic Oil Pipeline

    Companies are queuing up to get a part of a potential oil boom in the waters off East Greenland.

    There is great interest in extracting oil off the coast as interest in the first preliminary round of tendering for the area shows.

    The Energy Ministry in Nuuk received 11 applications for exploration and exploitation of oil and gas in the Greenland Sea, according to Greenland self-government, Naalakkersuisut, in a press release. The deadline was December 15th.

    The number of applicants shows that there is competition for several license blocks that were offered. Forthcoming is an extensive evaluation and negotiation process before the best applications are selected.

    “The result of the licensing round is an important milestone in achieving a long-term and sustainable economy for Greenland,” says Ove Karl Bertelsen, a member of Naalakkersuisut.

    The area in the Greenland Sea covers 50,000 square kilometers. A total of 19 blocks were offered, ranging in size from 1752 to 3306 square kilometers.

    The offering process is divided into two rounds. The first is the so-called Kanumas-Group consisting of Statoil-Hydro, BP, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Japan Oil, Gas and Minerals National Corporation – and the state oil company Nunaoil.

    The second round is an open round where all companies are allowed to apply. The same terms and conditions apply for the two blocks.

    Source

    Jyllands Posten

  • Alaska drilling season over

    Alaska drilling season over

    Pipeline to an oil tanker

    The first drilling for natural resources in Alaskan waters for over two decades has been completed for this year. Shell was drilling and intends to return next year to go even deeper.

    Shell only had permission to go to 1400 feet with two boreholes, well short of oil and gas deposits. But potential deposits will be sought next year.

    Early this summer, at the start of a narrow window for exploratory drilling in the region, thick sea ice clinging to Alaska’s shores prevented Shell’s ships from cruising to the drill sites.

    “The mandatory close of the drilling window offshore Alaska brings to an end a season in which we once again demonstrated the ability to drill safely and responsibly in the Arctic,” said Curtis Smith, a Shell spokesman, in a statement Wednesday.

    “The work we accomplished in drilling the top portion of the Burger-A well in the Chukchi Sea and the Sivulliq well in the Beaufort Sea will go a long way in positioning Shell for a successful drilling program in 2013.”

    Oil companies bored 30 exploratory wells in the Beaufort Sea and another five in the Chukchi Sea between 1982 and 1997, but Shell’s work this summer may signal a new Arctic oil rush. Other companies waiting in the wings with leases in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas include Repsol and ConocoPhillips.
    Sources:
    Alaska Dispatch
    FuelFIx